Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a first substrate, and a semiconductor layer, and a gate line disposed over the first substrate. The gate line overlaps the semiconductor layer. The display device also includes a first insulating layer disposed over the semiconductor layer, wherein a first opening is formed through the first insulating layer. The display device further includes a metal pad disposed over the first insulating layer, being electrically connected to the semiconductor layer through the first opening, and a data line disposed over the first insulating layer, wherein the data line crosses the gate line and is electrically connected to the metal pad. In addition, the display device includes a second insulating layer disposed over the metal pad and the first insulating layer, wherein a second opening is formed through the second insulating layer, and the second opening at least partially overlaps the gate line.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/729,315, filed Jun. 3, 2015, which claims priority of TaiwanPatent Application No. 104101901, filed on Jan. 21, 2015, the entiretyof which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to display devices, and in particular todisplay devices using thin film transistors (TFTs).

Description of the Related Art

In order to fulfill the requirements of high-speed image processing andhigh-quality image displays, flat-panel displays, such as colorliquid-crystal displays (LCDs) have become popular. LCDs typically havean upper and a lower substrate with electrodes thereon. These substratesare sealed with adhesive materials, and a liquid-crystal material issealed between these two substrates. Prior to liquid-crystal injection,spacers are sprayed between the substrates in order to maintain aconstant distance therebetween.

Thin film transistors (TFTs) are typically formed above the lowersubstrate as switching devices. Each TFT has a gate electrode connectedto a scanning line, a source electrode connected with a data line, and adrain electrode connected to a pixel electrode. The upper substrate isdisposed above the lower substrate and includes a color filter and aplurality of light-shielding materials (formed of resin black matrix,for example). Edges of the lower and upper substrates are sealed withadhesive materials, and liquid-crystal materials are provided betweenthe upper and lower substrates. The lower substrate is also called afirst substrate, and elements such as TFTs and electrical contacts areformed thereover, which are typically defined by performing severalphotolithography steps.

However, as improvements are made in the image resolution of displaydevices, display devices for maintaining or improving the performance ofthe aperture ratio and image display of display devices are needed,especially as the size of the elements such as TFTs and contacts formedover the lower substrate is further reduced.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary display device comprises an array substrate defined with aplurality of pixel structures arranged in an array. In one embodiment,each of the pixel structures comprises a semiconductor layer disposedover a substrate and a first metal layer disposed over the substrate,and the first metal layer functions as a gate line. The pixel structurefurther comprises a first insulating layer disposed over thesemiconductor layer, wherein the first insulating layer comprises afirst opening exposing a top surface of the semiconductor layer and asidewall surface of the first insulating layer. The pixel structurefurther comprises a metal pad disposed over the first insulating layer,being formed over the top surface of the semiconductor layer and thesidewall surface of the first insulating layer through the firstopening. The pixel structure further comprises a second insulating layerdisposed over the metal pad and the first insulating layer, wherein thesecond insulating layer comprises a second opening exposing the metalpad over the sidewall surface of the first insulating layer. In oneembodiment, the sequence of the first opening, the second opening, andthe first metal layer along a direction is the first metal layer, thesecond opening, and the first opening.

In another embodiment, the display device further comprises atransparent substrate and a display layer disposed between thetransparent substrate and the array substrate.

In some embodiments, a display device includes a first substrate, asemiconductor layer disposed over the first substrate, and a gate linedisposed over the first substrate, wherein the gate line overlaps thesemiconductor layer. The display device also includes a first insulatinglayer disposed over the semiconductor layer, wherein a first opening isformed through the first insulating layer. The display device furtherincludes a metal pad disposed over the first insulating layer, whereinthe metal pad is electrically connected to the semiconductor layerthrough the first opening. In addition, the display device includes adata line disposed over the first insulating layer, wherein the dataline crosses the gate line, and the data line is electrically connectedto the metal pad. The display device also includes a second insulatinglayer disposed over the metal pad and the first insulating layer,wherein a second opening is formed through the second insulating layer,and the second opening at least partially overlaps the gate line.

In some embodiments, a display device includes a first substrate, asemiconductor layer disposed over the first substrate, and a gate linedisposed over the first substrate, wherein the gate line overlaps thesemiconductor layer. The display device also includes a first insulatinglayer disposed over the semiconductor layer, wherein a first opening isformed through the first insulating layer. The display device furtherincludes a metal pad disposed over the first insulating layer, whereinthe metal pad is electrically connected to the semiconductor layerthrough the first opening. In addition, the display device includes adata line disposed over the first insulating layer, wherein the dataline crosses the gate line, and the data line is electrically connectedto the metal pad. The display device also includes a second insulatinglayer disposed over the metal pad and the first insulating layer,wherein a second opening is formed through the second insulating layer,and the metal pad at least partially overlaps the gate line.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequentdetailed description and examples with references made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the arraysubstrate along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the arraysubstrate along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to yet another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view showing the layout of an array substrateaccording to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carryingout the invention. This description is made for the purpose ofillustrating the general principles of the invention and should not betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determinedby reference to the appended claims.

FIGS. 1-2 are schematic diagrams showing an exemplary array substrate 10applicable in display devices such as color liquid-crystal displaydevices. Herein, FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the array substrate10, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the arraysubstrate 10 along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, the array substrate 10 mainly includes a substrate 100 (notshown here, see FIG. 2), a plurality of U-shaped semiconductor layers102, a plurality of first metal layers 106, an first insulating layer108, a plurality of first openings 110, a second metal layer 112including a plurality of metal pads 112 a and a plurality of data lines112 b, a second insulating layer 116, a plurality of second openings118, and a plurality of transparent electrodes 120. In one embodiment,the plurality of U-shaped semiconductor layers 102 are separatelydisposed over the substrate 100, and the plurality of first metal layers106 extend along a first direction (e.g. the X direction). The pluralityof first metal layers 106 are separately disposed over the substrate 100to respectively cover one of the semiconductor layers 102. In addition,the first insulating layer 108 (not shown here, see FIG. 2) is formedover the substrate 100, the semiconductor layers 102 and the first metallayers 106, and the plurality of data lines 112 b extend along a seconddirection (e.g. the Y direction) to be separately disposed over theinsulating layer 108 to partially cover a portion of one of thesemiconductor layers 102. Moreover, the plurality of metal pads 112 aare respectively disposed over a portion of the first insulating layer108 between two adjacent data lines 112 b to partially cover anotherportion of one of the semiconductor layers 102. Moreover, the pluralityof first openings 110 are separately disposed in the first insulatinglayer 108 to respectively expose a top surface (not shown here, see FIG.2) of portions of the semiconductor layer 102, and a portion of the dataline 112 b respectively fills one of the first openings 110 to form anelectrical connection with the semiconductor layer 102. Moreover, thesecond insulating layer 116 (not shown here, see FIG. 2) is blanketlyformed over the substrate 100, the data lines 112 b and the firstinsulating layer 108, and the plurality of second openings 118 areseparately disposed in a portion of the second insulating layer 116 torespectively expose a portion of one of the data lines 112 b andpartially overlap one of the underlying first openings 110. Moreover,the plurality of transparent electrodes 120 are separately disposed overthe second insulating layer 116 in a plurality of pixel regions Pdefined by the adjacent and interlacing gate lines (i.e. the first metallayer 106) and data lines (i.e. the data lines 112 b of the second metallayer 112), and a portion of the transparent electrodes 120 fill in oneof the second openings 118 to contact the data line 112 b. In each ofthese pixel regions P, a respective pixel structure is formed therein.

The following description uses a structure in a single pixel region P asan example. As shown in FIG. 1, the first metal layers 106 extendingalong the first direction such as the X direction may function as thegate lines, and the data lines 112 b extending along the seconddirection such as the Y direction may function as the data lines. Inaddition, the first openings 110 may function as first contact hole, andthe second openings 118 may function as second contact holes. Herein,the metal pad 112 a formed in the first opening 110 is used forelectrically connecting a drain region of a thin film transistor devicewith a sequentially formed pixel electrode, and the second opening 118partially overlaps the first opening 110, such that a portion of themetal pad 112 a is exposed and the transparent electrode 120 formed inthe second opening 118 partially overlaps and contacts the data line 112b to form electrical connections. The transparent electrode 120 mayfunction as the pixel electrode. The source region (not shown) of a thinfilm transistor will be electrical connected with the data line 112 b ofthe second metal layer 112 to receive data of images.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the arraysubstrate 10 along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, a third insulating layer 104 is disposed between thesemiconductor layer 102 and first metal layer 106 to function as a gateinsulating layer of a thin film transistor. A drain region 102 a isformed in a portion of the semiconductor layer 102, and the firstopening 110 is formed through the first insulating layer 108 and thethird insulating layer 104 to partially expose a top surface of thedrain region 102 a, and the data line 112 b conformably forms oversurfaces of the first insulating layer 108 and the third insulatinglayer 104 and fills the first opening 110. The data line 112 b coversand contacts the sidewall surfaces of the first insulating layer 108 andthird insulating layer 104 and the top surface of the drain region 102 aof the semiconductor layer 102 exposed by the first opening 110 throughthe first opening 110.

In addition, the second opening 118 formed in the second insulatinglayer 116 partially overlaps the first opening 110 in the pixel regionsP, thereby exposing a portion of the metal pad 112 a in the firstopening 110 and over the first insulating layer 108. In anotherembodiment, the second opening 118 may expose the metal pad 112 a overthe first insulating layer 108 and the sidewall and bottom portions ofthe metal pad 112 a, and the transparent electrode 120 is not onlyformed over the top surface of the second insulating layer 116 but alsoin the second opening 118 to contact the portions of the metal pad 112 aexposed by the second opening 118. It should be noted that the area ofthe metal pad 112 a exposed by the second opening 118 is greater thanthe area of the top surface of the semiconductor layer 102 exposed bythe first opening 110. In other words, the size of the second opening118 is greater than the size of the first opening 110 exposing the drainregion 102 a but not includes the size of the first opening 110 exposingthe source region(not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, since the second opening 118 is arranged betweenthe first opening 110 and the first metal layer 106, the coverage areaof the transparent electrode 120 in the pixel regions P can beincreased, thereby improving an aperture ratio of the pixel regions P.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, the first opening 110 and the secondopening 118 in the pixel regions P are tapered openings that reduce insize from top to bottom. For the purpose of simplicity, only a maximumsize of the first opening 110 and the second opening 118 are shown inFIG. 1, and the first opening 110 on the drain region 102 a and thesecond opening 118 have a geometric center A and B, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, a connection line A-B between the geometric center Aof the first opening 110 and the geometric center B of the adjacentsecond opening 118 in the pixel region P and the first metal layer 106have an included angle α of substantially 90 degrees from the top-view.The connection line A-B is perpendicular to the first metal layer 106.However, for the purpose of increasing the coverage area of thetransparent electrode 120 in the pixel regions P and the effectiveaperture ratio of the pixel regions P, the location of the secondopening 118 can be adjusted to be closer to the data line 112 b at theleft side (see FIG. 3) or closer to the data line 112 b at the rightside (see FIG. 4), such that the connection line A-B between thegeometric center A of the first opening 110 and the geometric center Bof the second opening 118 in the pixel region P is no longerperpendicular with the first metal layer 106. Therefore, the connectionline A-B and the first metal layer 106 may have an included angle αother than 90 degrees, and the included angle α can be greater than 0degrees and be less than 90 degrees.

FIGS. 5-6 are schematic diagrams showing another exemplary arraysubstrate 10′. FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the array substrate10′, and FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the arraysubstrate 10′ along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5. Herein, the array substrate10′ shown in FIGS. 5-6 is obtained by modifying the array substrate 10shown in FIGS. 1-2. Therefore, the same reference numbers in FIGS. 5-6represent the same components and only differences between the arraysubstrates 10 and 10′ are discussed as follows.

As shown in FIG. 5, the relative locations of the metal pad 112 a,portions of the semiconductor layer 102, and the components adjacentthereto can be further adjusted to make the metal pad 112 a and thesecond opening 118 partially overlap the first metal layer 106.Therefore, the transparent electrode 120 merely fills the second opening118 in part to partially cover the top surface of the second insulatinglayer 116, portions of the sidewall surface of the second insulatinglayer 116, and the top surface and the sidewall surfaces of the metalpad 112 a exposed by the second opening 118.

As shown in FIG. 6, a schematic view showing a cross section of thearray substrate 10′ along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 is illustrated. Herein,the transparent electrode 120 merely fills the second opening 118 inpart to partially cover the top surface of the second insulating layer116, portions of the sidewall surface of the second insulating layer 116and the top surface and the sidewall surfaces of the metal pad 112 aexposed by the second opening 118, and the overlying metal pad 112 apartially overlaps the underlying first metal layer 106.

Still referring to FIGS. 5-6, the first opening 110 in the pixel regionP and the second opening 118 crossing the pixel region P and the metalline 106 are tapered shaped openings having sizes reduced from top tobottom thereof. For the purpose of simplicity, only a maximum size ofthe first opening 110 and the second opening 118 are shown in FIG. 5,and the first opening 110 and the second opening 118 have a geometriccenter A and B, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, a connection line A-B between the geometric center Aof the first opening 110 and the geometric center B of the adjacentsecond opening 118 in the pixel region P and the first metal layer 106have an included angle α of substantially 90 degrees, such that theconnection line A-B is perpendicular to the first metal layer 106.However, for the purpose of increasing the coverage area of thetransparent electrode 120 in the pixel regions P and the effectiveaperture ratio of the pixel regions P, the location of the secondopening 118 can be adjusted so that it is closer to the data line 112 bat the left side (see FIG. 7) or closer the data line 112 b at the rightside (see FIG. 8), such that the connection line A-B between thegeometric center A of the first opening 110 and the geometric center Bof the adjacent second opening 118 in the pixel region P is no longerperpendicular with the metal line 106. Therefore, the connection lineA-B and the metal line 106 may have an included angle α other than 90degrees, and the included angle α can be greater than 0 degrees and lessthan 90 degrees.

Similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4, since the second opening 118 isformed at a place between the first opening 110 and the first metallayer 106 in the array substrate 10′, the coverage area of thetransparent electrode 120 in the pixel region P can be increased,thereby improving the aperture ratio of the pixel region.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 5-8, the substrate 100may comprise materials such as glass or plastic, the semiconductor layer104 may comprise materials such as polysilicon, and the first insulatinglayer 108 and the third insulating layer 104 may comprise the same ordifferent materials such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or acombination thereof. The first metal layer 106 may comprise materialssuch as tungsten or aluminum. The second insulating layer 116 maycomprise insulating materials such as spin-on glass. The metal pads 112a and the data lines 112 b may comprise materials such as tungsten andaluminum and can be formed simultaneously. The transparent electrode 120may comprise transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide(ITO). The shape of the semiconductor layer 102 is not limited to theillustrated U-shape, and can be L-shaped or other shapes. Fabrication ofthe above components can be achieved by conventional array substratefabrications and are not described here for the purpose of simplicity.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross section showing a display device 500according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the display device 500 comprises an array substrate300, a transparent substrate 350, and a display layer 400 disposedbetween the array substrate 300 and the transparent substrate 350. Inone embodiment, the array substrate 300 of the display device maycomprise the array substrates 10 and 10′ shown in FIGS. 1-8 and furthercomprise other components such as pixel electrodes and common electrodes(not shown). According to various embodiments of the display device 500,such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device or an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) device, the display layer 400 may comprise aliquid-crystal layer or an organic light-emitting diode layer. Accordingto various embodiments of the display device 500, such as aliquid-crystal display (LCD) device or an organic light- emitting diode(OLED) device, the second substrate 350 may comprise other componentssuch as color filters (not shown), and the second substrate 350 maycomprise transparent materials such as glass or plastic.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofthe preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it isintended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (aswould be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope ofthe appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a first substrate;a semiconductor layer disposed over the first substrate; a gate linedisposed over the first substrate, wherein the gate line overlaps thesemiconductor layer; a first insulating layer disposed over thesemiconductor layer, wherein a first opening is formed through the firstinsulating layer; a metal pad disposed over the first insulating layer,wherein the metal pad is electrically connected to the semiconductorlayer through the first opening; a data line disposed over the firstinsulating layer, wherein the data line crosses the gate line and thedata line is electrically connected to the metal pad; and a secondinsulating layer disposed over the metal pad and the first insulatinglayer, wherein a second opening is formed through the second insulatinglayer, wherein the second opening at least partially overlaps the gateline.
 2. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal padat least partially overlaps the gate line.
 3. The display device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the second opening at least partiallyoverlaps the first opening.
 4. The display device as claimed in claim 1,wherein an area of the metal pad exposed by the second opening is afirst area, an area of the semiconductor layer exposed by the firstopening is a second area, and the first area is greater than the secondarea.
 5. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the size ofthe second opening is greater than the size of the first opening.
 6. Thedisplay device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second opening exposesa portion of the metal pad, and the portion of the metal pad is disposedover a sidewall surface of the first insulating layer.
 7. The displaydevice as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second substrate;and a display layer disposed between the second substrate and the firstsubstrate.
 8. The display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein thedisplay layer is a liquid-crystal layer.
 9. The display device asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the display layer is an organiclight-emitting diode layer.
 10. The display device as claimed in claim1, further comprising a transparent electrode, wherein the transparentelectrode is electrically connected to the metal pad through the secondopening.
 11. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstopening has a first geometric center, the second opening has a secondgeometric center, an extension line passing through the first geometriccenter and the second geometric center is inclined to the gate line withan included angle, and the included angle is greater than 0 degrees andless than 90 degrees.
 12. A display device, comprising: a firstsubstrate; a semiconductor layer deposed over the first substrate; agate line disposed over the first substrate, wherein the gate lineoverlaps the semiconductor layer; a first insulating layer disposed overthe semiconductor layer, wherein a first opening is formed through thefirst insulating layer; a metal pad disposed over the first insulatinglayer, wherein the metal pad is electrically connected to thesemiconductor layer through the first opening; a data line disposed overthe first insulating layer, wherein the data line crosses the gate lineand the data line is electrically connected to the metal pad; and asecond insulating layer disposed over the metal pad and the firstinsulating layer, wherein a second opening is formed through the secondinsulating layer, wherein the metal pad at least partially overlaps thegate line.
 13. The display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein thesecond opening at least partially overlaps the first opening.
 14. Thedisplay device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the size of the secondopening is greater than the size of the first opening.
 15. The displaydevice as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a second substrate;and a display layer disposed between the second substrate and the firstsubstrate.
 16. The display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein thedisplay layer is a liquid-crystal layer.
 17. The display device asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the display layer is an organiclight-emitting diode layer.
 18. The display device as claimed in claim12, further comprising a transparent electrode, wherein the transparentelectrode is electrically connected to the metal pad through the secondopening.
 19. The display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein thefirst opening has a first geometric center, the second opening has asecond geometric center, an extension line passing through the firstgeometric center and the second geometric center is inclined to the gateline with an included angle, and the included angle is greater than 0degrees and less than 90 degrees.